She is such a cutie. I even think she looks a little bit like her poppy...
Awwww she's a sweetheart!
Poor Cillin! It will sort out eventually, though. This is where I usually start to meddle in The affairs of my chickens, though I do respect your decision on letting it mostly play out on it’s own. If he keeps losing the footpad you might want to try another thin band looped under the pad with the ends coming up and gently crossing the top of the foot, then crossing again between his back toe and spur then ending under the foot again. Sort of like tying a shoe or scrappy sandal on. I know, easier said than done, especially if he’s a wiggler or decided to kick while you’re trying to wrap it. I am lucky that Roostie is such a patient and tolerant guy.Well, it has all gone horribly wrong.
I'm working on getting the foot pad right. It isn't easy. Gloria said the wrapping holding it on shouldn't be very tight. Fortunately the bump is so large that just having it in the hole helps to stop the pad moving.
I fixed Cillin up this morning and let him out. Within 15 mins Notch picked a fight with Cillin. Nobody won as such and Cillin held his ground. A bit later Treacle chased Cillin away from the hens. Every time these two meet now Treacle attacks Cillin. Cillin puts up a brief fight and then runs.
To be fair Treacle has put up with similar from Cillin for over a year now.
The problem is, the hens will not at the moment at least, follow Treacle.
A further problem which at the moment is working to Cillins advantage is Treacle is scared of all the other roosters apart from his dad Cillin. Cillin isn't scared of any of the other roosters.
What Cillin managed today was to pick a patch by the bamboo where Notch hangs out with his hens. Treacle wont go near Cillin there. This afternoon Link thought he would have a go at Cillin. Cillin drove him off easily.
So, Cillin got some time with some of the hens.
The bad news is when he went to roost in the tribes coop Treacle drove him back out. This happened three times and eventually Cillin made his way back to my house. I now have for the forseeable future a house guest at night.
From past experiences I do not think this situation between Treacle and Cillin is repairable.
I believe that Moon and maybe Tap and Hurry will follow Treacle. That would leave Fat Bird, Fudge, Tackle and Mel with Cillin....maybe. In order for this to work I will have to divided the coop and provide a back entrance. Ideally I need another coop a bit away from the current one. That may be possible later.
I'm okay with Cillin sleeping in the house. He's very good and as long as he's out and about during the day, where he sleeps while he has no hens and is recovering from his foot problems doesn't matter.
I'm finding watching the whole business heartbreaking. I'm hoping as has happened in the past that once both of them have at least one hen, referably two the fighting will in general stop.
Cillin this morning before he left the house. Mel came to visit. I'm not quite sure why. She's not laying eggs yet.
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Cillin by the bamboo. The hens came down to join him while Treacle stayed at the sheep shed with the rest.
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It looks a bit loose but was still in the right place when I checked at roost time.
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A very tired Cillin.
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And here's little Blossom, snugged up and purring
